Tinucci is Dayton’s press secretary and an assistant chief of staff. She will leave the governor’s office June 7 to switch over to the campaign.

“I am delighted that Katharine Tinucci has agreed to manage my campaign for re-election,” Dayton said in a statement. “I have the utmost confidence in her acumen, her dedication, and her ability to work well with many different people. I am grateful for her willingness to assume these major responsibilities, and I know that she will do an excellent job.”

Tinucci, 29, served as deputy campaign manager during Dayton’s 2010 run and has helped shape his messaging through his first two years as governor.

“It has been an honor to work in the governor’s office over the last two years, as Governor Dayton has worked to strengthen Minnesota’s middle-class by investing in education and supporting job creation,” Tinucci said. “Now, I am excited to join the campaign and to share Governor Dayton’s record of accomplishments with people across the state, while building a strong coalition of support for a second term for the governor.”

So far, two GOP candidates have announced their intentions to challenge Dayton. Republican businessman Scott Honour and Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson have said they are running. Several more Republican candidates are expected to jump into the race in the coming weeks.

Tinucci has a law degree from University of St. Thomas and a bachelor’s degree from Loyola University in Chicago.

Matt Swenson will become Dayton’s new press secretary at the Capitol. He has worked in Dayton’s office for about a year. Before that, he served as spokesman for Margaret Anderson Kelliher, who Dayton beat in a DFL primary.